Archive for the ‘Recommended Reading’ Category

Under A Lavender Moon

Posted: February 10, 2021 in Announcements, Promo, rafflecopter, Recommended Reading, Xpresso Tours
2

Under A Lavender Moon
Christina Mai Fong
(Nightingale Songs, #1)
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: February 11th 2021
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Sixteen-year-old Rilla Marseas believes she has a calling to become a healer. Her soul yearns to help people and save lives. Why else would Heaven grant her a singing voice that can heal any ailment? But if the palace discovers her power, she’ll be selected for the annual Showcase, where the most beautiful and magically gifted girls in Seracedar Kingdom compete for the chance to enter the emperor’s harem. That’s the last thing Rilla wants. To avoid such a fate, she hides her power. No matter how the other villagers ridicule her for being worthless and talentless, she suppresses the urge to reveal her powerful voice and prove them wrong. When a palace scout poisons Rilla’s auntie and coerces her into revealing her power, she’s thrown into the competition. The scout threatens to harm her family if she doesn’t win. But Rilla learns there really is no winning. The emperor and empress keep girls with magical powers as pets. In cages. With some help from a handsome, but brooding prince and his mysterious bodyguard, Rilla must outsmart the palace and escape. If she fails, she’ll spend the rest of her life as the royal couple’s puppet, using her voice to grant them eternal youth.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

I was a Bio major, pre-med in college, but I couldn’t stand the sight of blood. I used to write poems and stories in the margins of my science notebooks. Well, after a reality check, I decided to pursue a career in Food Science because I like food, and everyone needs to eat. Meanwhile, I continued to write. My absolute FAVORITE books are YA Fantasy, so it’s no surprise that I chose to write it, too.

Having been raised in Southern California, where there’s a healthy blend of cultures, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t put an Asian American spin in my stories. And having always been the “quiet, shy girl,” who often felt like a wallflower even though I wanted desperately to be the heroine, I’m so glad I now get the opportunity to make the underestimated good girls my heroines. But of course, I’m forcing them out of their comfort zones so they have to embrace their dark side and kick some villainous butt.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Hosted by:
XBTBanner1

See You Never by Delaney Lynn

Posted: February 8, 2021 in Announcements, guest post, Recommended Reading
0

See You Never started as a fun side project to help distract me from the frightening things that were happening in the world. We were less than a month into the lockdown; schools were closing, concerts and sports were being cancelled. It was the unknown of what was to come that left me feeling uneasy. I was lucky enough to keep my job throughout the Pandemic, working as a Public Health Nutritionist and falling under the umbrella term healthcare worker, deemed me as an essential employee. My days were filled with panicked phone calls, press releases, updates on new cases in the county, and it was all overwhelming. I couldn’t turn to television for a distraction because commercials and news outlets were a constant reminder of what was happening in the world around us. 

I began reading an excessive number of books as it was the only way to truly escape. Then I got the crazy idea that it might be fun to write my own book. What started as a personal project was quickly picked up by my close friends. They requested I send them the chapters as they were written, and soon demanded more and more. It was all the encouragement I needed to continue writing my story of Ember, Ace, and Sawyer. 

I’m an avid romance reader, and I knew the genre in which I would be writing had to fall under romance. I’m a sucker for a good love story, so I wrote what felt right, the words coming to me as I typed. I didn’t know how the story would end once I started writing, but eventually, a romantic suspense novel was born.

My experience writing See You Never was a fun one. I wrote the entire first manuscript over the span of about three months. After that, I set the book aside and didn’t pay it any attention for at least another two. In that time, I wrote another book, having already fallen in love with the writing process.

When I finally picked up See You Never again, I began the vigorous editing process, finding ways to expand on the original ideas I had. Once my manuscript was sent to a real editing team, things took off from there. I have this small army supporting me, helping to make this newfound dream of mine come to life, and I couldn’t be more thankful. 

On February 1st, my novel See You Never was finally realeased as an eBook through Amazon/Kindle. This is only the beginning for me. See You Never has plans to be available in the future at all major retailers in paperback and hardcover. I’m excited to continue this writing journey with my additional novels Rocky Loveand Give Her the World. 

You can follow my progress on Instagram (@laneyylynn) or join the book club I started in 2019 via Instagram (@ladybookers). If See You Never happens to fall into your hands, I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Book Summary:

Ember Johnson is finally living the life she’s always wanted. She has a great job, a new house, a loyal best friend, a loving mother, and the only thing missing is someone special to share it all with. Sawyer Christensen was Ember’s high school sweetheart, and quite frankly, she hasn’t loved anyone since. He was her first love, but with big love, comes big heartbreak.

Ace Cooper is a successful business owner, running many of the restaurants and bars in town. He is an attractive man who has never had a problem getting a woman’s attention. He hardly thinks about settling down, at least not until he lays eyes on the beautiful woman passed out in his bar.

Ace can’t be more mesmerized by Ember. Everything about her fascinates him. But Ember believes she is only average, having experienced very little attention from men in the past to build up her confidence. Their mutual attraction is hard to ignore. Ace could be the one thing missing from Ember’s life. She may be the one thing Ace didn’t know he needed. They could be happy together, if only Sawyer will let them.

About the Author

Delaney Lynn is a Public Health Nutritionist and avid romance reader. She currently resides in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband,  four cats, and dog. She started the Lady Bookers Book Club via Instagram in 2019, frequently sharing her favorite authors and novels. You can connect with Delaney via her Instagram @laneyylynn and keep up with her book club @ladybookers.

Body Language in Writing

Posted: February 5, 2021 in Announcements, Promo, Recommended Reading
0

Using Body Language in Your Writing

I have always been intrigued by the interpretation of facial expressions and body language. The TV series “Lie to Me” increased the popularity of learning more about this interesting subject.

One of the key things to remember when writing or reading a person’s body language is that it is not what they reveal in their baseline behaviour, but the change from that behaviour to something quite different. 

Armed with a diploma in body language, people tend to ask me “what is my body language saying to you now?”

They might cross their arms, or do something fairly common like that, then want me to basically give them a run-down on what that body language is revealing.

However, it doesn’t work like that. A lot of people think that by crossing their arms they are being defensive or closed off, and yes, that might be true.

That doesn’t really tell me much. Instead, it’s watching people that change from one behaviour to another that exposes what is actually going on.

Now, some people may ask, “well, if it’s that clear cut, then why doesn’t law enforcement immediately know if someone is guilty?”

Unfortunately, body language isn’t an exact science. Although, much can be revealed, people may still not know why that change occurred. But it can give an inkling that they need to dig further into that line of questioning.

People tend to look for exaggerated displays of body language, but often, it is the subtle displays that are truly revealing.

No matter how insignificant it may seem, never underestimate the small changes, words are only a very minor part of the overall picture.

Just by looking in one direction it can reveal someone is telling the truth, while another direction they are thinking up a story. Every little bit contributes to the overall picture.

These aspects are important to consider when including body language in your writing. The more you understand how it works, the easier it will be to write a realistic portrayal of a witness, victim, cop or perpetrator.

And what may surprise many people, is that body language experts believe that the legs and feet are considered more accurate  communicators than the face.

Think about it. What is your body language saying about you?

Contact Details:

Sharlene Almond

Email

Websites:

Writing and Body language website | Health website | Animal Website

Social Media:

Facebook | Twitter

Author Bio

Sharlene Almond is the author of the genre-bending Annabella Cordovaseries, and a New Zealand travel book Journey in little Paradise. She has written a range of health, writing and body language articles; contributing as a guest writer on other blogs.

Over the last ten years, Sharlene has attained qualifications in Body Language, Criminology, Journalism, Editing and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

While setting up an online nutritional business, she is studying to specialize in Medicinal Cannabis and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

Sharlene is also currently editing her second Annabella Cordova novel, with two others in the works.

To support her online business, Sharlene sends out a trimonthly newsletter covering health, body language, writing, and even articles centered on health topics for your pet.

Older Entries
Newer Entries